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Synopsis

The Physics PhD, built on the time-immemorial apprenticeship model, has long been the gold standard for scientific training. With the 125^th anniversary of the first physical sciences PhD in Canada, it seems overdue to ask: is the degree still fit for purpose? The landscape for today's graduate students looks nothing like what newly minted Dr. John McLennan faced in 1900. Today’s students face a hyper-competitive academic job market and the rise of (supposedly) transformative technologies like generative AI. Rigorous technical expertise is still required but is not sufficient to succeed - students also need a diverse set of professional skills.

We will explore the tensions and opportunities in current graduate programs.  The data helps us understand the gaps and suggest some possible ways forward. We will discuss strategies for integrating professional development, fostering student well-being, and adapting supervision models to better equip physicists as innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers in academia, industry, and government. Please be prepared to contribute. My hope is that every participant will leave with one actionable item they can implement with the goal of building a more responsive and relevant graduate education experience.